Telepathic Wheelchair Control

Telepathic Wheelchair Control | Neuralink

Neuralink been exploring how clinical trial participants can control a powered wheelchair — with their minds.

The Neuralink implant decodes movement intentions in real time to move an on-screen cursor. That cursor controls a custom app that shows a live camera feed of what’s in front of the participant. Move the cursor up and the wheelchair goes forward; down, backward; left and right to steer. The farther they push the cursor in any direction, the faster the chair moves.

This video provides an early look at our work on telepathic wheelchair control — an important step on the path towards restoring independent mobility for people with paralysis.

Learn more: https://neuralink.com

Neuralink devices are investigational and have not been approved by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. This video features voluntary clinical trial participants sharing their personal experiences, which may not reflect all participants or future outcomes.

According to the trial participant in the video, the Neuralink system is significantly better than a joystick for two primary reasons:

Improved Physical Comfort: Using a traditional joystick often forces the user to hunch over, which can cause significant pain. The Neuralink interface allows the user to maintain an upright, healthy posture while driving (1:18 – 1:34).
Ease of Use: While the initial experience involved a brief learning curve of “stop-and-go” movement, the user reports that controlling the chair with their mind became “second nature” after just a few minutes of practice (1:04 – 1:12).

Telepathic Wheelchair Control | Neuralink

Neuralink’s N1 implant (part of their Telepathy system) translates brain activity into direct, physical wheelchair movement, moving beyond on-screen cursor control and software interfaces to restore physical mobility.

How Neuralink Wheelchair Control Works

The system operates by converting motor cortex intent into real-time mechanical navigation commands:

Signal Capture: The N1 implant utilizes over 1,000 microscopic electrodes distributed across 64 ultra-fine threads, placed directly into the region of the brain’s motor cortex responsible for intended hand and arm movements.
Intent Decoding: Neuralink’s processing algorithms decode real-time brain activity, translating imagined movements into digital directions.
Visual Interface Integration: In current clinical setups, the user views a live camera feed from a display mounted on the wheelchair. By directing a digital cursor or target via thought—forward, backward, left, or right—the system translates those cursor inputs directly into wheelchair steering.
Physical Execution: The signals control the chair’s motor controls, executing forward driving, reversing, steering turns, and even adjusting seating positions.

Key Highlights & Clinical Context

PRIME Study: The functionality is being tested under Neuralink’s ongoing PRIME Study (and CAN-PRIME) clinical trials, which evaluate the safety and utility of the fully implantable wireless Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) for individuals with quadriplegia or severe ALS.
Beyond Wheelchairs: In addition to wheelchair navigation, trial participants (“Neuralnauts”) use Telepathy to control standard computers, smartphones, smart home devices, and third-party robotic arms.

Key Advantage: Unlike non-invasive EEG-based wheelchairs—which rely on external scalp caps that are prone to signal noise and latency—Neuralink’s direct cortical implant provides a higher signal bandwidth (Information Transfer Rate), allowing for fluid and responsive control.